This disease is commonly called inflammation of the stomach. As a matter of fact it is an acute catarrh similar to that which occurs in the nose. But the surface of the stomach is so much larger that it causes more severe symptoms and consequences. The causes of catarrh of the stomach are also similar to those which produce catarrh of the nose. A common cold in the head is due to exposure to wet and cold, extreme changes of temperature, influenza, and infectious diseases. It may also be due to powerful irritants, such as poisonous fumes and gases, or mineral poisons. In like manner catarrh of the stomach (acute gastritis) may arise from exposure to wet and cold, extremes of temperature, and infectious diseases. It is not uncommon for a cold in the head to extend to the bronchial tubes or stomach. But probably the most important causes of gastric catarrh are local irritants in the food which has been consumed. Thus it may be due to irritation by an excess of ordinary foods, by their in digestibility, or fermentation. Some foods contain special irritants, such as the ptomaines in unsound meat, fish, or cheese ; or the salts of tin in canned fruit or vegetables. Spirituous liquors are a frequent cause of gastritis. Certain wines and other foods contain an excessive amount of acids which cause gastritis. And the disease may be caused by the accidental or intentional consumption of acids, alkalis, and mineral poisons, or exposure to powerful fumes and gases.

The symptoms of catarrh of the stomach vary according to its severity, (a) In severe cases there is an intense burning pain in the stomach, radiating to the lower part of the chest in front and between the shoulders, with more or less rigidity of the abdominal muscles. The pain is aggravated by breathing. There is intense nausea, and the stomach rejects everything that is swallowed; where nothing is swallowed the patient vomits mucus and bile, often streaked with blood. These are the most serious cases, such as follow poisoning by corrosive sublimate, carbolic acid, ammonia, and other irritating substances. Such cases may properly be called inflammation of the stomach. The condition of the patient is serious, there is a tendency to collapse, and the case may end fatally in from four to six days.

The extreme irritability of the stomach contraindicates feeding by the mouth. Nevertheless the patient may have small pieces of ice frequently, some Valentine's meat juice being given with ice every hour, and small quantities of iced albumin-water may be given at intervals, with milk of magnesia or a bismuth mixture at stated periods. The patient must be fed per rectum if the vomiting continues more than twenty-four hours. The "feeds" may not be retained owing to a reflex irritation of the bowels; but something must be done, and that is the most rational thing to do. If the condition of the patient improves, the food and mode of feeding recommended below will be applicable to the case. It is also necessary to apply some local application. Whether this should be hot or cold must depend on the sensations of the patient. The sensation in the interior of the stomach is sometimes described as being "like a red - hot coal". If the heat is so intense it is probable that poultices or mustard plasters applied to the exterior would not moderate it. A cold lotion, such as eau de Cologne and water, or the ancient and useful evaporating lotion would be more useful and better appreciated. An ice-poultice, consisting of pounded ice between two layers of old flannel, an ice-bag, or Leiter's tubes would also be more soothing than poultices.

(b) In sub-acute gastritis, or those cases which are more properly called acute gastric catarrh, the symptoms are less severe and the consequences more seldom fatal than in the former type of the disease. It is a common result of alcoholism, the consumption of high game, mushrooms, ptomaine poisoning, exposure to wet or cold and other atmospheric influences. The symptoms of this type may also vary according to its severity. The pain may be acute - a sensation of burning, or merely excessive warmth in the stomach. There may be a craving for food which, moreover, fails to relieve the pain, and may aggravate the nausea and vomiting. The material brought up from the stomach consists of tenacious ropy mucus, mingled with the substances which have been swallowed, and bile or streaks of blood.

In the treatment of these cases ice is extremely useful. It helps to allay the irritation and check the vomiting. As regards food, the stomach must have a rest. But a few articles are useful to assist in subduing the irritability of the stomach. These consist of mucilaginous materials and alkaline waters. Among the former are white of egg, isinglass and milk, barley-water and milk, tragacanth and milk, decoction of Iceland or Irish moss and rice-water. All these substances have the experience of ages to recommend them. Milk should never be given alone, but should be diluted with half or two-thirds of one of these liquids. Irish moss jelly is made as follows: Take a quarter of a teacupful of Irish or Iceland moss, one pint of milk, and a pinch of salt. Soak the moss in water for a few minutes, wash it, and carefully pick it over. Put it into a muslin bag, and boil it with the milk in a double pan until the liquid thickens when a few drops are poured on a plate. Add the salt, remove the bag, press it and pour the milk into a mould. It will set on cooling. It may be eaten cold; or made liquid by dissolving it in an equal quantity of hot water and again allowed to become lukewarm. Isinglass and milk is prepared in a similar manner. Both these preparations are soothing to the stomach. White of egg should be mixed with lemon-water. Rice-water is prepared by boiling rice in water until it is thoroughly cooked and straining the liquid away; it should set into a thin jelly.

The alkaline liquids are very useful; the combination of carbonic acid gas and alkali is soothing to the inflamed surface of the stomach, it checks nausea, and assists in controlling vomiting. Soda-water, potash-water, lithia-water, Perrier and Apollinaris water are the kinds usually recommended. The great advantage of milk of magnesia or bismuth is that the metal becomes deposited upon the mucous membrane and acts as a local sedative to the stomach.